What to Watch Tuesday: Parenthood Anxiety, NCIS Awkwardness, Santa Comes to Town & More

On TV this Tuesday: Four’s a crowd on NCIS, Parenthood‘s Bravermans put on a brave front, Apartment 23‘s Beek is a Dancing star, a family party may not have Happy Endingsand you’d better watch out, because Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town. As a supplement to TVLine’s original features (linked within), here are 10 programs to keep on your radar.

8 pm NCIS (CBS) | When FBI Agent Fornell becomes the target of a shooting, a twist in the case folds in his and Gibbs’ mutual ex-wife (returning guest star Melinda McGraw) — leading to, among other things, this WTF? scene. “It’s one of the funniest moments we’ve done in a very long time,” show boss Gary Glasberg tells us. “There’s a whole build-up to what’s going on in that scene, and I literally laugh out loud every time I watch it.” (He had no comment on whether McGee gets a head-slap.)

8 pm Hart of Dixie (The CW) | Zoe is so anxious to get away from her visiting (and ever-critical) mom – played by returning guest-star JoBeth Williams – she nearly ruins Christmas Eve for the whole town.

9 pm Happy Endings (ABC) | Jane and Alex’s parents (played by Harry’s Law‘s Christopher McDonald and Airplane‘s Julie Hagerty) throw a huge party to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the family mattress business, forcing Alex to let Dave know she never told her folks they reunited. Meanwhile, Max looks for a new BFF to replace his paired-off pal Penny.

Finally tonight it’s time for the NCIS episode I’ve been waiting for weeks, months even.
I am most certainly going to watch the new NCIS episode. That is a must-see for me tonight.

I love that Fornell is back. And I love the fun and funny McGee related moments that we’ll see. Plus a few other things. This episode once again shows why Steven Binder is one of my favourite NCIS writers.

I’ll also be recording New Girl and Apartment 23, and Go on. But I’m behind on some of these shows, so not gonna watch the new episodes until I’ve caught up.